Everyone shook their heads.
"Law enforcers and law magistrates differ by a single character, yet the gulf between them is immense... This is not a difference in official rank, but in power. Law enforcers are ordinary individuals with law enforcement authority, while law magistrates... possess a divine path of their own."
"It is said that before the Great Catastrophe, there were eighteen divine paths in the world, each unique. But with the passage of time and the withering of civilization, only fourteen remain today."
"These fourteen paths are—"
"Scholar, Healer, Warrior, Yellow, Green, Artisan, Chess, Drama, Puppet, Witch, Strength, Divination, Thief, Courtesan;"
"It is rumored that each divine path leads to a 'divine throne.' If one traverses an entire path, they can transcend mortal bounds and ascend to godhood..."
"The law enforcers of our Aurora Realm are in charge of... the 'Warrior Divine Path' among the fourteen."
"According to Aurora City's regulations for law enforcers, each enforcer gains the eligibility to enter the 'Warrior Path Ancient Repository' three years after becoming a full-fledged member. If they pass the trials within the 'Repository,' they may be chosen by the 'Warrior Divine Path' and officially embark on this divine journey."
"Once on the divine path, Aurora City will change your status—promoted from law enforcer to law magistrate."
After hearing Han Meng's explanation, everyone's eyes lit up...
Completing a divine path to ascend to godhood!
This held enormous allure for a group of newly adult children!
In Chen Ling's mind, images of last night's battle between the red paper monster and Han Meng involuntarily emerged... Han Meng had seemed to open some mysterious domain, then became incredibly formidable. So that was the power of the 'Warrior Divine Path'?
"May I ask, is entering the 'Ancient Repository' the only way to obtain a divine path?" Someone in the crowd asked cautiously.
"Theoretically, no."
Han Meng shook his head. "The key to embarking on a divine path lies in gaining the 'path's' recognition. If you possess exceptional talent in a divine path, or if the path deems you destined for it by birth, it will naturally guide you... Such individuals are called [Divine Chosen]."
"I once met a youth from the South Sea Realm. He began learning painting at three years old, self-taught, and at five, casually drew a 'Hundreds of Boats Competing' on the ground with rice porridge, gaining the favor of the 'Green Divine Path' to become the youngest path bearer in history."
The entire audience was astounded.
"But those chosen by divine paths are extremely rare. Most who wish to walk a divine path can only rely on entering the 'Ancient Repositories'... Of course, not all repositories are within human realms. Some lie at the intersection of the Gray Realm and reality, making them nearly inaccessible to ordinary humans.
This results in few entering or passing their trials. For these paths, the only way is through 'divine favor,' so their numbers are minuscule—such as the Yellow, Drama, Thief, and Courtesan Divine Paths."
"In short, these fourteen divine paths are the only recognized paths in human realms. In the Aurora Realm, the vast majority choose only the 'Warrior Divine Path'."
"The only recognized by human realms?" Chen Ling interjected. "So there are unrecognized paths?"
Han Meng glanced at him, paused, and replied:
"Yes... and many. For example, the 'Integrationists' who abandon humanity to merge with catastrophes; the cultists of the 'Jiangtian Sect' who worship the Heavenly Calamity Red Star... These paths must never be touched.
Once someone walks them, there is only one fate: hunted by all human realms, then...
Exterminated."
At "exterminated," Chen Ling's heart jolted.
If he was right, the "Observer" within him was a "catastrophe." Did that count as merging?
He didn't know and dared not ask. He suddenly felt his earlier decision not to seek help from enforcers was wise... If he was an integrator, their first reaction would likely be to kill him and the catastrophe together.
Looking at the solemn enforcers not far away, Chen Ling's palms began to sweat...
[Audience Expectancy +10]
[Current Expectancy: 33%]
Two lines of text flashed in the void before Chen Ling's eyes. He couldn't help but curse the "Observer" in his mind for being perverse—their pleasure was entirely built upon his life-and-death crises...
But despite the tension, Chen Ling wasn't overly afraid.
After all, he suspected even Han Meng would never guess that a mergerist might not only face law enforcers without fleeing but actively try to sneak into their ranks.
"Do groups like the Integrationists or Jiangtian Sect have any chance to master divine paths?" someone asked again.
"Virtually impossible," Han Meng said coldly. "No divine path would bestow favor upon monsters who embrace evil..."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Chen Ling's eyes...
As a time traveler, he naturally desired power beyond the mundane. To be honest, he'd been tempted when divine paths were mentioned earlier... But if he was truly an integrationist, this path was closed to him.
"Next, someone will assign tasks to each of you. Whether you can stay after three days... depends on yourselves."
After uttering these final words, Han Meng turned and left.
The crowd began murmuring again.
Several law enforcers stepped forward to announce everyone's upcoming tasks:
"Jiang Lipeng, Nie Yining, assist in patrolling Hanyun Street, District 3; Deng Feiliang, Gong Heng, assist in patrolling Hanxue Street, District 3..."
All present were probationary members, fundamentally incapable of solo patrols, so they could only help official enforcers with trivial tasks. Those named first had it easier; the later the names, the more remote the streets became, until finally, there were even those assigned to cross districts for support in District 2.
"...Wu Youdong, Chen Ling, assist in patrolling Bingquan Street, District 2..."
Hearing his name listed for District 2, Chen Ling was slightly taken aback. He clearly remembered no one had been assigned to Hanshuang Street in District 3 yet—and he himself was from Hanshuang Street. Why was he being transferred to District 2?
Though Districts 2 and 3 weren't far apart, daily commuting would take at least four hours... This would squeeze out all his free time!
"The assessment begins today. Each of you now has three hours to go home and prepare," the enforcer said. "You must report for duty in three hours."
After the enforcer finished reading the list and dismissed the crowd, Chen Ling vaguely felt something was off but couldn't put his finger on it.
"Bro, are you Chen Ling?" A skinny teenager cautiously sidled up to him.
"You are..."
"I'm Wu Youdong, the one assigned to support District 2 with you."
"Oh, hello."
Wu Youdong glanced around and lowered his voice. "Did you bribe them?"
"Bribe?" Chen Ling was confused.
"The guy who read the list just now, Magistrate Ma Zhong... He's in charge of personnel transfers. Where we go and what we do is all up to him." Seeing Chen Ling's reaction, Wu Youdong sighed wearily. "Judging by your expression, you didn't either... No wonder we drew the short straw."
At this, Chen Ling finally understood.
He suddenly recalled the rickshaw puller's words on the way here... "What kind of law enforcer can you be without money?"
"Seems law enforcers aren't any better," Chen Ling sneered inwardly.
Even a roadside laborer knew the true nature of law enforcers, which spoke volumes about how deeply corrupt the organization was.
"Where do you live?"
"128 Hanshuang Street."
"Coincidence, I'm also on Hanshuang Street, just the other end."
"Bro, we're both in the same tough spot. Let's help each other out when we get to District 2." After chatting with Chen Ling for a few words, Wu Youdong hurried home to pack his things.
Chen Ling was the last to leave the headquarters. As soon as he stepped out, a cold voice rang out from beside the door.
"Stop."
Chen Ling froze in his tracks.
Slowly turning his head, he saw Han Meng leaning against the wall, a cigarette between his lips, eyes fixed on him like a viper's.
"You're Chen Ling?"